Newsom Twosome: April 2011

Quick note: I canceled my FB account. Again. I'm not sure why I was getting so much spam. I do have another account just for family because I want to keep in touch.

Anyways, I recently went to visit Mom in California. What a beautiful time of year!

I have been using an app called Instagram, which I love. You can do things like this...

Cool, huh? There will be more of that coming your way in just a bit. Stay tuned...

The first day we drove up to Paso Robles and went wine tasting and really just took in the scenery. It is such a change from the city (Las Vegas). It is so quiet and peaceful and really just breathtaking this time of year.

On our way, we drove through Templeton. Population < 5000. Not sure if they are including the livestock in that number. Established in 1886. Notable residents include Josh Brolin, Alex Trebek and Sandy Koufax.

Here's the new and improved versions, compliments of Instragram...

These pictures make me want to put one of those little copyright symbols at the bottom and a caption that says "Artwork by BN, master iPhone photographer".

Once in Paso, we stopped at J. Lohr, Eberle and Meridian. We have great memories of each.

At J. Lohr, it was all about the wine. This was our first stop and I am so glad it was. It really set the stage for the rest of the day. The staff was great about us being novices - it was a very educational experience. Once I left, I felt like I could walk into any winery and know what I was (mostly) talking about. I thought maybe they charged for all the time they spent with us, or even for the tasting, or worked on commission or something. But, no. Complimentary.

This was the scenery in every direction.

Onwards to Eberle.

Um...yeah, idk what this has to do with wine. But ok. You own the vineyard.

You can put whatever you want in it.

Quit laughing at my hair. The wind was behind me pushing it up.

They have caves below the winery where they store all their barrels. Cool.

And they have cave TOURS. Cooler.

Totally made up for the ishy wine pourer who practiced a disappearing act every five minutes.

Looking down into the cave. Little bit of a hike on the way back up.

These men are important, although I don't know why.

Don't know their names either.

Wasn't listening.

I was too busy trying to get a good picture of the cave.

This was my 20th retake. Best I could do. Lighting was awful.

I don't even think Instagram could help it.

Humbled. No longer a master iPhone photographer.

Just Brandee. Average person with an iPhone.

Sorry. Don't know what the numbers and letters mean.

I was distracted. Maybe I have ADD.

And it was cold down there. 55 degrees!

What is that over there on the ground?

Boy, my toenails sure look cute with these sandals.

How do they move these barrels around?

I wonder what Eric and the dogs are doing.

(See what I mean? ADD.)

Different barrels are used for different aging. There are even steel barrels. The difference in color above - the dark one used to hold cognac. They are both made of oak.

Their private tasting area, Lovey. Club members only.

1999 Estate Reserve Cab.

You know how artwork is numbered? Yeah. This bottle is #13 of 30.

'Spensive. Thurston will have to catch the tab for this one.

Then we went to Meridian. By far the most beautiful grounds we visited this day.

I'd like to have this view in my backyard.

Maybe I'll print a giant picture and hang it in the window.

At Meridian, they had a wine and cheese pairing. Very interesting. When tasting, wine-cheese-wine.

My favorite pair was the Riesling with the Mango-Ginger cheese. It tasted like cheesecake.

And not like somebody telling you that frog legs or snake or whatever tastes like chicken.

It really was like I had just put a bite of cheesecake in my mouth (except for the crust). Yum.

And we loved our sommelier. Her name was Emily. We bonded.

In a serious way.

If you ever meet someone named Emily from Meridian, she is family now. We've adopted her.

We also got pedicures, had a barbecue at the house, spent almost a whole day on the couch, and went wine tasting another day with my stepsister Gina. What a great time!